Meaning
To accept a bad deal for gain.
Cultural Background
The phrase is often used in political satire and cartoons to depict politicians shaking hands with personifications of Corruption or the Mafia. Arrigo Boito's opera 'Mefistofele' is a famous Italian adaptation of the Faust story, reinforcing the idiom's imagery in the national consciousness. In some rural traditions, 'patti col diavolo' were believed to be the cause of sudden, unexplained wealth in a poor community. Director Paolo Sorrentino often uses themes of moral decay and 'pacts' in his films about power and politics, like 'Il Divo'.
Use for Drama
This is a high-impact phrase. Use it when you want to sound passionate or critical about a moral issue.
Avoid Triviality
Don't use it for small things like choosing a restaurant. It makes the 'devil' look small!
Meaning
To accept a bad deal for gain.
Use for Drama
This is a high-impact phrase. Use it when you want to sound passionate or critical about a moral issue.
Avoid Triviality
Don't use it for small things like choosing a restaurant. It makes the 'devil' look small!
Verb Variation
Use 'stringere' instead of 'fare' to sound more like a native intellectual or journalist.
Secular Context
Remember that in Italy, even non-religious people use this. It's about ethics, not just theology.
Test Yourself
Completa la frase con la forma corretta del verbo 'fare'.
In passato, molti alchimisti hanno ______ un patto col diavolo per scoprire l'oro.
The sentence requires the past participle 'fatto' to form the 'passato prossimo' with 'hanno'.
Quale di queste situazioni descrive meglio un 'patto col diavolo'?
Scegli l'opzione corretta:
This involves a moral compromise for personal gain, which is the definition of the idiom.
Completa il dialogo con l'espressione corretta.
A: 'Ho deciso di lavorare per quella multinazionale che inquina i fiumi.' B: 'Ma così stai ______!'
Working for an unethical company for personal gain is a classic 'patto col diavolo'.
Abbina l'inizio della frase alla sua fine corretta.
Trascina gli elementi:
These are the standard collocations for this semantic field.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Compromesso vs. Patto col Diavolo
Practice Bank
4 exercisesIn passato, molti alchimisti hanno ______ un patto col diavolo per scoprire l'oro.
The sentence requires the past participle 'fatto' to form the 'passato prossimo' with 'hanno'.
Scegli l'opzione corretta:
This involves a moral compromise for personal gain, which is the definition of the idiom.
A: 'Ho deciso di lavorare per quella multinazionale che inquina i fiumi.' B: 'Ma così stai ______!'
Working for an unethical company for personal gain is a classic 'patto col diavolo'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the standard collocations for this semantic field.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsNo, in this context it is a standard metaphorical term and not considered a swear word or offensive.
Yes, but 'col' is much more natural and idiomatic for native speakers.
Yes, it always implies that the deal is morally wrong or has a hidden negative cost.
'Vendere l'anima' is more extreme; it implies you can never go back. A 'patto' might just be one specific deal.
Only if you are being very informal or critical. In a professional setting, use 'compromesso etico'.
No, it can be for power, fame, love, or even just to avoid a problem.
No, there is no 'patto con l'angelo'. For positive deals, just use 'accordo'.
Noi facciamo un patto col diavolo.
Extremely common, especially in crime dramas and political thrillers.
Yes, if they win by cheating, you can say they made a pact with the devil.
There isn't a direct idiomatic opposite, but 'mantenere l'integrità' (maintaining integrity) is the conceptual opposite.
Yes, though they might prefer 'vendersi' (to sell oneself) in slang.
Related Phrases
vendere l'anima al diavolo
synonymTo sell one's soul to the devil
scendere a compromessi
similarTo compromise
fare il gioco di qualcuno
similarTo play someone's game
essere l'avvocato del diavolo
contrastTo be the devil's advocate
un'arma a doppio taglio
builds onA double-edged sword
